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We'll Put Our Stock In That: Burberry's Initial Public Offering Looks Exquisite
By: Godfrey Deeny
Photos by Gruber-FWD
Milan, Jun 26, 2002/FWD/ --- Talk about perfect timing to stage a great collection.
As the details of Burberry's IPO emerged in London, the house's young designer Chris Bailey
presented his most accomplished collection to date, and the most coherent show in Milan so
far this season.
With Burberry chairman Rose Marie Bravo being lauded as the ten-million-pound woman, for her
role in rebuilding Burberry from a reputable but remote old name, the soundtrack fittingly
opened with Squeeze's classic tune "Pulling Mussels from a Shell."
Perhaps the thought of stock options played a role, because this was by far Bailey's most
confident collection since joining Burberry less than two years ago.
Not that his previous efforts were not accomplished.
But where his earlier shows tended to ape classic British popular images, this collection
subverted and reinvented them astutely.
The thrown-together charm of the Burberry male models remains, but for spring summer 2003
they look like they all landed high-paying jobs.
Bailey pretty much steered clear of the house's signature before, but on Monday he opened
with some great cotton shirts and clinging knit tops in sherbet and red plaids.
Chris also tapped into the house's military roots with a couple of khaki combat looks,
worn with sensational posh punk zippered pants - making a great heroic look.
Designers in Milan have been wrestling with cut-off trousers for the city, and quite frankly
most of the results have been ridiculous, both on models and a few far-out front-row editors.
Bailey, however, sent out striped shorts cut off below the knee and worn with a nylon fighter
pilot top that really worked.
Other standouts were his multi-pocket nylon combat pants, sexy English shirts with shining
stripes and figure-hugging velvet jackets.
Bailey is also a highly competent cutter, as his short cricket jackets, which didn't even
reach the hip bone, and sleek peg-leg pants confirmed.
Admittedly, the collection and choice of models did seem targeted at a younger consumer
than one normally associates with Burberry.
But if the result is a collection as strong as this, then let's go for it.
When does the stock hit the market again?
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